Social Proof Is Not Due Diligence
Large follower counts, screenshots, and group-chat excitement spread claims. They do not prove them.
Start with public records
What to assume first
Investor.gov warns that scammers use social platforms, impersonation, testimonials, and urgency to create false legitimacy. The starting assumption should be that visibility is easy to fake.
- Screenshots of wins do not verify custody, withdrawals, or solvency.
- A group chat that adds you automatically is not a trusted research venue.
- A celebrity or influencer mention does not remove counterparty risk.
Source note
Verification sequence
Before you touch a wallet, verify the identity, the domain, the contract address, and the withdrawal path from a public source you reached yourself.
- Open the official site from a known public profile, not from a DM.
- Check whether the promoter can be independently tied to a registered or official identity.
- If withdrawal rules become more complicated after you deposit, stop immediately.
Source note
Red flags
Fraud patterns stay consistent even when the branding changes.
- Promises of high returns with little or no risk.
- Pressure to move from public posts into private chats quickly.
- Instructions to send crypto first and ask questions later.
On this page
How to use this guide
Check the source before you respond or connect.
Compare the source you plan to use against this briefing. Confirm it independently, and stop if the public record does not match the message.
Primary sources